Unit 2 — Linear Models

Unit 2 · Linear Models

Linear Models

Deepen your command of linear relationships — slope, equations of lines, real-world modeling, and fitting lines to data.

Estimated Time

2–3 weeks

Difficulty

Intermediate

4 Lessons
5 Learning Goals
12 Vocabulary Terms

Overview

Unit description, learning objectives, and skills.

Unit 2 — Linear Models treats linear functions as precise tools for modeling the real world. You will revisit slope and intercepts with greater rigor, connecting algebraic forms to the rate-of-change language from Unit 1. A major focus is building models from context — given a situation in words, a table, or a scatter plot, you will write a function, use it to make predictions, and fit a line to real data using least-squares regression.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this unit, you will be able to:

Goal 1Write and interpret linear functions in slope-intercept, point-slope, and standard form.
Goal 2Graph linear functions and identify slope, intercepts, and key features.
Goal 3Build linear models from verbal descriptions, tables, and graphs.
Goal 4Fit a line to data using least-squares regression and interpret slope and intercept in context.
Goal 5Identify parallel and perpendicular lines from their equations.

Skills You Will Master

Slope & intercepts
Graphing linear functions
Building linear models
Fitting lines to data
Parallel & perpendicular lines

Real-World Connection

Linear models are everywhere. A rideshare app calculates your fare using a linear function of distance. A scientist plots experimental data and fits a line to find a trend. A business analyst uses regression to forecast next quarter's sales. Even the GPS in your phone uses linear interpolation to estimate your position between known points. Mastering linear models gives you a universal tool for describing change — and every other function type in this course is compared against the linear baseline.

Chapter Checklist

Recommended steps for completing each chapter

  • Read the Workbook
  • Complete the Independent Study
  • Finish the Exit Ticket
  • Take the Quiz
  • Review the Answer Key
  • Continue to the Next Chapter